It has been a dark week for motorsports in general, especially with the passing of Justin Wilson, after being struck in the head by debris during the Verizon Indy Car series at Pocono in the US.
There seems to be a feeling that the motorsports fraternity needs to look into ways to provide better protection for drivers’ heads. Even the recent passing of Henry Surtees and Jules Bianchi could have been attributed to the same lack of protection.
There has been talk of having a fighter jet-style canopy, but concerns regarding its strength have brought this move into question. Also, the FIA believes drivers could get trapped in these cockpits in an event of an accident, so it doesn’t seem like it is going to get the nod for future development.
The FIA has already done tests on a fighter-jet style canopy, and it seems the cover could possibly shatter upon hitting debris, or it could launch debris into the air and cause a lot more danger to spectators too.
Anyhow, they are conducting more ‘closed cockpit’ tests next month, and a few more ideas have been mooted. There have been a host of ideas put forward, including having vertical blades with different heights in front of the cockpit, which can turn debris away, but also not hinder a driver from being extracted in any untoward incident.
But perhaps the craziest idea is from Mercedes. It is being called a ‘halo-style’ solution, which you can see in detail in the video above. With the locking mechanism, apparently it’s very ease to remove as well. The animation was done by Giorgio Piola for Omnicorse.it, and it’s really quite insightful in terms of what could be in store for Formula One in the future.
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Good move.
I do afraid at accident, it break and hit at driver’s neck.
I doubt this will catch on. That middle bit that’s in front of the driver’s face is going to be a problem
Even for safetys sake I cant see many drivers wanting this type of “closed cockpit”!! Absolutely no way will they be wanting a central pillar directly in their line of sight. Ughhhh it looks hideous! Why not a full drivers rollcage like the type used in Top Fuel Drag-Racing……which totally encloses the drivers head? Or mavbe a raised windscreen which would also offer some front protection reducing the risk from drivers running into debris like Massa collecting Barrichellos rear spring or may even have saved Justin Wilsons life last week. Henry Surtees is another accident where a raised windscreen might have saved him by deflecting the wheel away from his head at a critical moment thereby lessening the impact. Although I prefer the Drag Racing type rollcage, I would say F1 should really be looking at reinforced raised windscreens that offer forward protection as well. Either way, the quicker we see them on the cars the better!!!
Meanwhile, Le Mans race cars continue to lead the way for many years now, phasing out open cockpits cockpits in favour of safer closed cockpit.
Welcome to the 21st century F1.
How can they say the canopy might trap the driver or shatter and injure spectators when sportscar/Le Mans has been racing with closed canopies for decades? Of course they have more interior space, but the point is, the cars do have canopies.
Also, powerboat racing has been using canopies too. I’d say the danger of drivers being trapped is worst in powerboats than F1 cos the boat could overturn and trap the driver underwater. Not sure if they have oxygen tanks though – cos I don’t really follow powerboat racing.
Of course, the danger of a canopy for F1 is if it rains, cos the humidity might mist up the inside making it difficult to see out of. But I guess you could have de-misters on them to solve that. But the most negative aspect of using canopies is that spectators can no longer see the drivers. Which means you can’t see them sawing at the wheel to control oversteer. The spectacle is reduced.
this is so stupid, not only its ugly (it looks like a toilet seat), it defeating the whole purpose of the idea..what good would it be for small flying debris, such as the incident involving Massa (with the flying suspension parts from Brawn’s car)…might as well not have it at all..come on ppl, if u gonna do it, do it proper..put in a jetfighter/LMP protype style canopy in there…